'Let me be clear: I have a lot of respect for Sen. Specter,' said McCain, in her latest blog post for the Daily Beast.

(CNN) - Meghan McCain - whose departure from conservative orthodoxy on some issues has put her at odds with some in the GOP base - said Thursday that former moderate Republican Sen. Arlen Specter had "let us down" by leaving the party.

"Let me be clear: I have a lot of respect for Sen. Specter," said McCain, in her latest blog post for the Daily Beast. "But I also can't help but feel like he's let us down.

"I'm sure this was a long, hard decision. The polls were looking very bleak in his primary contest. His probable opponent was nearly 20 points ahead in many polls. And I understand how he's been made to feel like an outcast by a small, vocal group. Still, this was an opportunity for Specter to hold his ground and set an example for progressive-minded Republicans trying to overcome one of their biggest obstacles: winning the party primaries....

"We need courageous Republicans more than ever. And this week, Sen. Specter turned his back."

Earlier this week, conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh suggested that McCain leave the party with Specter. "A lot of people say, 'Well, Specter, take [Sen. John] McCain with you. And his daughter [Meghan]. Take McCain and his daughter with you if you're gonna…" he told listeners Tuesday.

soundoff(73 Responses)

S.M

No, the Republican party let Specter and the people of America down.

April 30, 2009 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

JIMBISCIELLO

FIRST OF ALL I DID NOT REALIZE THAT MEGAN MCCAIN IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL- WHAT DOES IT MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS??
REGARDING LIMBAUGH THIS IS REALLY LAUGHABLE- THE MAN WHO SPEAKS FOR THE MORAL MAJORITY IS A SKIRT CHASING DRUG ADDICT. HE IS ON MY PAY NO MIND LIST AND WILL ALWAYS BE ON THIS LIST
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES
THE COUNTRY WAS BLUDGEONED BY CHENEY , ROVE AND RUMSFELD.
CHENEY PULLED THE STRINGS THAT MOVED BUSH'S MOUTH AND BRAIN- IT IS IRONIC THAT BUSH IS QUIET -WHY ? BECAUSE CHENEY DOES NOT PULL THE STRINGS ANYMORE...
THEN THROW IN SARAH PALIN INTO THE MIX AND YOU REALLY HAVE A CIRCUS.
I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN REPLACE RINGLING BROS AND TOUR THE COUNTRY AS " THE GREATEST MESS ON EARTH"....

April 30, 2009 02:15 pm at 2:15 pm |

Tom

What are you smoking, Meghan? The GOP has been taken over by ideological far-right nutters who continue to spew their nonsense even after staggering election losses. There are no "progressive Republicans" anymore. If anything the term is an oxymoron.

Granted that the only reason Specter jumped ship was so he could keep is seat in the next election...

April 30, 2009 02:15 pm at 2:15 pm |

David in Houston

Meghan, you have it wrong.

April 30, 2009 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Big Jilm

That's what happens when your own party tries to eat you alive; you leave it.

April 30, 2009 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Keeth in California

I wonder if she said the same thing to her father after he let his rabid minions and his VP spread racist and vicious lies about Obama, and after he lost the election. Meghan, you let us down.

April 30, 2009 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Bob the Observer

I've tried to think of a lot of ways to say it, but all that comes to mind is, "Shut up, Meghan!"

April 30, 2009 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

RWE

i don't see many examples of the demcratic party accepting conservative democrats. who cares what megan thinks.

remember the RNC nominated a presidential candidate that critisizes his own party many times. would the dems do the same thing? nope.

which party is the open minded ones and which aren't? its not what you think.

April 30, 2009 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

Wendy in So. Cal

Congress has let us all down and it doesn't make any difference which team you play for because they are all out for themselves, self-preservation is the name of the game and Specter is just being honest and upfront about it. No one is standing up for the lower and middle class of America, the wealthy and influential still control congress and party affiliation is irrelevant.

April 30, 2009 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

Elliott

Ms. McCain,

With all due respect, your father's campaign slogan was "Country First", not Party First. The only thing Specter turned his back on was the new "branding" that the GOP has been using for the last 8 years plus.

Moreover, how many people in the GOP turned their back on Specter when he voted for a bill he didn't like? The answer was/is obvious for the GOP, either you're with us or against us.

Just ask Mr. Steele.

April 30, 2009 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Patricia in Las Vegas

for the people making "Republican letting you down comments" ... I have to admit in the almost 40 years I have been eligible to vote, every time I have voted for a Republican (at any level), I have regreted it after they took office and showed their true colors. I still look at the person not the party when voting, but I sure do look more closely! And lately the Republican's aren't looking too impressive!!!

April 30, 2009 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Pragmatic

Senator Specter knows he represents PA as a whole state: not just the narrow branch of the GOP that plans of "Purging and Purifying" their political party. So instead of this small group purging Specter in the GOP primary, now the voters of PA will have a choice.

Intelligent people are not welcome in the new republican party: if you aren't a brain-washed clone, ready to mindlessly follow the "glorious leader" – you will be purged and thus the party will be purified... too scary for me!

April 30, 2009 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

Laura

There are no 'real' differences in the political parties anymore anyway. All either side does is blame the other and spend money that isn't there. Arlen Specter left to better his chances for re-election, plain and simple. At 79 yrs old – why isn't he stepping aside anyway and letting someone with different ideas get in there?

April 30, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

USMC - Mike

OK,

she speaks a lot about what's wrong with the GoP (and I agre with her) ...

BUT, BUT!!!

What is she saying the GoP's direction should be? I haven't heard a cohherant policy discussion with her yet ... Where would she take the party on a political level ? what's the plan ?

She's no better than the far right billowing about how some are not GoP enough in their ranks ... What does that mean for policy and ideas?

I'm waiting for Meghan to start issuing her solutions to the party as we all know it's problems...

Crickets.....

we're waiting ....

April 30, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

donna

Does Arlen even KNOW who Meghan is? Does he care what she thinks?

Probably not....her dad wants to jump ship too...but can't....

April 30, 2009 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

Carl

Like her or hate her, she brought up the most important point.

Senator Spectre wasn't going to even win the nomination of his own party to run for re-election next year. He switched to save his job first. Any help to the great people of Pennsylvania is a distant second.

April 30, 2009 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

Anonymous

Megan is hot.

April 30, 2009 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

Kevin

Meghan, take a hint from Sen. Specter. The RNC IS NOT THE SAME PARTY THAT YOU KNEW!!!

Get out while you can, child.

April 30, 2009 03:02 pm at 3:02 pm |

my opinion

okay I dont care if Meghan party hates her.. if anyone wants the republican party to win anything they probably ought to listen to her. End of story. I am for the best person in my opinion and I felt Obama is better than Mccain. But I am begining to like Meghan!!!

April 30, 2009 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |

mfelder

Meghan:

I am not a republican, but I truly respect your dedication to making your party more progressive. You represent the future of your party and I think, the Republican leadership should pay more attention to what you are saying.

April 30, 2009 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |

frank Ponikvar

Republicans let the whole country down. Why are you republicans not surprised. Your ideals are from the dark ages.

They don't even like you Megan.

April 30, 2009 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |

William, from Cali!

HE SAW THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? SOME PEOPLE NEVER SEE..... IT! AND PLUS, HE GOT A "SWEET DEAL"!......................................

April 30, 2009 03:07 pm at 3:07 pm |

Jeff - Sarasota, Florida

Ah, the nievity of youth... She says he was 20 points behind and that he should try to overcome the obstacle of winning the party... It is obvious she either hasn't a clue to the fact the the GOP had already screwed him over for that as they would of used the fact he voted against the GOP for the stimulous or anything else regardless of his reasoning behind it... The Republicans haven't got any clue how to fix anything especially considering they are a majority of the ones responsible for the situation this country is in now... Spector did the only thing he could do under the circumstances and considering how Rush said McCain should go with him and the Steele agreed with Rush should tell her where her parties leaders are taking themselves... She even blasted Rush yesterday for saying her dad should go too and then today she has the ignorance to say Spector should have stayed when it is pretty obvious to most of the people that he was through as a Republican as far as the ones running the party are concerned...

So, as I said, don't feel bad for Meghan and don't think of her as anything more then nieve (or basically young and dumb) when it comes to what is going on in the overall spectrum of things... she is a typical young Republican, following on blind faith instead of actually looking as what is and has been going on and trying to make a change... most of the stuff she writes or comments on has no bearing to the actual way the party is being run at this point in time, but I will give her credit for being on of the 20-30% of the population that still admit they are a Republican...